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ANÁLISIS Y EVALUACIÓN CRÍTICA DEL ROL DESEMPEÑADO
POR LA ORGANIZACIÓN INTERNACIONAL DEL TRABAJO (OIT)
EN DESARROLLAR Y ASEGURAR PRINCIPIOS Y DERECHOS
FUNDAMENTALES EN EL TRABAJO.
ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE PLAYED
BY THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO) IN
DEVELOPING AND SECURING CORE LABOUR STANDARDS.
SERGIO LÓPEZ BOHLE
Universidad de Santiago de Chilesergio.lopez@usach.cl
SEBASTIÁN UGARTE GÓMEZ
Universidad de Chile
RESUMEN

Este artículo analiza el rol y misión de la OIT en promover los principios fundamentales
en el trabajo (PFT) y monitorear su cumplimiento. También hace una evaluación crítica de la
efectividad de los métodos empleados por la ILO para asegurar los PFT, en un complejo contexto
de diferentes grados de desarrollo social yeconómico, ideologías políticas, así como tener que lidiar
en algunas ocasiones con propósitos divergentes de sus actores sociales (empleadores, trabajadores
y gobiernos). El artículo discute los principales debates y problemas enfrentados por la OIT al
momento de interactuar con la diversa gama de Estados miembros. Finalmente, son propuestas
algunas observaciones con el objetivo de mejorar laaplicación de los PFT en vista de los nuevos
desafíos sociales y económicos del mundo actual.
Palabras claves: Organización Internacional del Trabajo, Trabajo, Relaciones laborales, Principios
fundamentales en el trabajo.
ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the role and mission of the ILO in promoting core labour standards (CLS)
and monitoring its compliance. It also makes a critical assessment to theeffectiveness of the
methods employed by the ILO to secure the CLS, in a complex context of different degrees of
social and economic development, political ideologies, as well as dealing in some occasions with
divergent purposes of its social actors (employers, workers and governments). The article discusses
the main debates and issues faced by the ILO when interacting with its diverse range ofmember
States. Finally, some final remarks are proposed with the objective to improve the application of
the CLS to the new social and economic challenges of today’s world.
KEYWORDS: International Labour Organization, Labour, Labour relations, Core labour
standards
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I. INTRODUCTION
During the last century, there has been an expansion of social and economic interdependence
betweencountries. As a consequence, an increasing interest in universal labour standards and work
ethics has taken place in our society. According to the public’s recognition, the most significant
contributor to global labour justice has been without doubt the International Labour Organization
(ILO). For some critics, the system created by the ILO to develop and secure core labour standards
(CLS) has itsdefects. However, it is the best accepted and most coordinated answer to the global
labour issues.
This paper seeks to make a critical analysis and assessment of the role played by the International
Labour Organisation (ILO) in developing and securing CLS. To achieve this main theme, the
paper will be structured in four parts and centred in ILO’s CLS. First, it will analyse the role of
theILO, taking into consideration its virtues and criticisms, plus its main historical developments.
Additionally, it will discuss the principle of social justice of the ILO to encourage and promote the
active participation and application of the core labour principles to its member states.
Secondly, it will assess several aspects and methods employed by the ILO to secure core
standards, such asits supervisory system, the role played by the member states as critical actors
of the system, the existing debate with respect to the influence and power that the ILO should
exercise to enforce the fundamental labour principles. Additionally, the paper will cover the debate
of flexibility when implementing the fundamental principles and the issues that the ILO has to
face when monitoring...